This section of the website highlights the key points of the 9/11
Commission Report Hearings. It does not include individual testimonies by speakers. For the readers interested in the testimonies,
please visit the official website at:

Note that all the documents found on this page were gathered from the official website. We had to summarize the
key points. The titles and descriptions of content as well as the content itself remains unchanged.

The purpose of this public hearing was to engage those whose lives were forever changed by the events of September 11 in
a public dialogue about the Commission's goals and priorities. The Commission also sought to learn about work already completed
and the state of current knowledge, in order to identify the most important issues and questions requiring further investigation.

Remarks by The Honorable Governor George Pataki, State of New York & Remarks by The Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg,
City of New York. As well as Testimony on "The Experience of the Attack", "Representatives of the Victims", "The Attackers,
Intelligence, and Counter-Terrorism Policy"

The Commission heard testimony on Congressional oversight as well as the state of the aviation security before and after
the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The morning discussions included the "Commission Mandate and Objectives", "Intelligence Oversight and the Joint
Inquiry" and the "Affected Constituencies". The afternoon hearings were about "Civil Aviation Security" and include discussions
on the "State of the System: Civil Aviation Security on September 11th".

The Commission heard testimony from experts on the character of the transnational terrorist threat, the relationships
of Arab states to these groups, and the phenomenon of violent extremism within the Muslim community. Three Panels were heard
on topics such as "Al Qaeda", "States and Terrorism", and "The Challenge within the Muslim World".

The Commission heard testimony from two sets of witnesses on leadership of U.S. intelligence, intelligence and national
security policy, and the effectiveness of warning against transnational threats. Among the six witnesses testifying was former
Secretary of Defense and Director of Central Intelligence James R. Schlesinger and former Deputy Secretary of Defense and
Director of Central Intelligence, John M. Deutch.

Experts were heard on "Leadership of U.S. Intelligence", and "Intelligence and National Security Policy". A Panel was
heard on "Warning of Transnational Threats".

The Commission heard testimony from four panels of witnesses on domestic intelligence collection, protecting privacy
while preventing terrorism, and the use of immigration laws to combat terrorism. Among the twelve witnesses testifying was
former Attorney General William Barr, former Deputy Attorneys General Larry Thompson and Philip Heymann, and former Deputy
Secretary of Defense John Hamre.

The two-day investigative hearing developed facts and circumstances relating to border and aviation security—two
central aspects of the Commission’s mandate.

The Commission heard from current and former officials from the public and private sectors. In addition to witness testimony, two
staff statements were delivered during the course of Day 1 of the proceedings. The first such Statement was on "Entry of the
9/11 Hijackers into the United States" and the second Statement was on "Three 9/11 Hijackers:Identification, Watchlisting,
and Tracking".

Day 1 included 4 panels: "The Border Security System Prior to September 11", "An Incident in Florida", "Visas and Watchlisting
Today", and "The Response of September 11 on the Borders".

The two-day investigative hearing developed facts and circumstances relating to border and aviation security—two
central aspects of the Commission’s mandate.

The Commission heard from current and former officials from the public and private sectors, concluding with testimony from
Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security James M. Loy. In addition to witness testimony, two staff statements were
delivered during the course of Day 2 of the proceedings. The first such Statement was on "The Aviation Security System
and the 9/11 Attacks" and the second Statement was on "The Four Flights".

Day 2 included 4 panels: "Aviation Security on 9/11: The Regulators", "Aviation Security on 9/11: The Airlines", "Acts
of Courage in the Sky", and "Risk Management after September 11".

This two day hearing investigated the formulation and conduct of U.S. counterterrorism policy, with particular emphasis
on the period from the August 1998 embassy bombings to September 11, 2001.

On Day one the Commission heard from current and former top-level administration officials. Secretary of State Colin L.
Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, testified, as did former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, and former
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. In addition to witness testimony, two staff statements were delivered during the course
of the proceedings. The first Staff Statement was on "Diplomacy" and the second Staff Statement was on "The Military".

This two day hearing investigated the formulation and conduct of U.S. counterterrorism policy, with particular emphasis
on the period from the August 1998 embassy bombings to September 11, 2001.

The Commission heard from current and former top-level administration officials. Director of Central Intelligence George
J. Tenet, and Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage testified, as did former National Security Adviser Samuel
R. Berger, and former National Counterterrorism Coordinator Richard A. Clarke. In addition to witness testimony, two
staff statements were delivered during the course of the proceedings. The first Staff Statement was on "Intelligence Policy"
and the second Staff Statement was on "National Policy Coordination".

This hearing examined the performance of law enforcement and the Intelligence Community prior to September 11 and evaluated
post-9/11 reforms in these areas. The Commission heard from current and former top-level officials from our nation’s
law enforcement and intelligence communities. Attorney General John Ashcroft, former Attorney General Janet Reno, former
FBI Director Louis J. Freeh, and former Acting FBI Director Thomas J. Pickard. In addition to witness testimony, two staff
statements were delivered during the course of the proceedings. The first Staff Statement was on "Law Enforcement, Counterterrorism,
and Intelligence Collection in the United States Prior to 9/11" and the second Staff Statement was on "Threats and Responses
in 2001".

This Hearing examined the performance of law enforcement and the Intelligence Community prior to September 11 and
evaluated post-9/11 reforms in these areas. On Day Two we find one Staff Statement on "The Performance of the Intelligence
Community" and a second Staff Statement on "Reforming Law Enforcement, Counterterrorism, and Intelligence Collection in the
United States".

A statement by The Honorable George J. Tenet. And one panel on "Preventing Future Attacks Inside the United
States" and a second panel on "FBI Leadership and Initiatives Post 9/11".

The two-day hearing examined the response of local and federal emergency response departments on September 11, 2001,
and considered how to improve these critical functions in the event of future terrorist attacks.

The Commission heard from the current and former top-level officials in the fire, police, and emergency management departments
of New York City, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Arlington County, Virginia. One staff statements
was presented during the course of the hearing on "Emergency Preparedness and Response".

The two-day hearing examined the response of local and federal emergency response departments on September 11, 2001,
and considered how to improve these critical functions in the event of future terrorist attacks.

The Commission heard from the current and former top-level officials in the fire, police, and emergency management departments
of New York City, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Arlington County, Virginia. Secretary of Homeland
Security Thomas J. Ridge and former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani also testified. One staff statements was presented
during the course of the hearing on "Crisis Management".

On June 16 at the National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center, the Commission heard from several of the federal
government’s top law enforcement and intelligence experts on al Qaeda and the 9-11 plot. More specifically, a Staff
Statement on "Outline of the 9/11 Plot". One panel on "Al Qaeda" and a second panel on "Outline of the 9/11 Plot".

Day two resumes with the top military and civilian aviation officials testifying about their agencies’ responses
to the 9-11 attacks. In addition to witness testimony, three staff statements were presented during the course of the proceedings

Staff Statement on "Improvising a Homeland Defense". One Panel on the "Military Response to 9/11" and a second panel
on "FAA Response on 9/11"